Leading with Experience, Driven by Results

J. Carey Thompson, Principal

With over 35 years of enrollment management leadership across some of America’s most prestigious private liberal arts colleges, J. Carey Thompson brings extraordinary expertise to the complex challenges facing private education today. Carey graduated from Furman University with a B.A. in Psychology and later received his M.Ed. in Higher Education/Institutional Advancement from Vanderbilt. He recently stepped away after four years as the Vice President of Enrollment and Educational Services at Gettysburg College having led Admission, Financial Aid, Athletics and Recreation, and Institutional Research. He served previously as Vice President for Enrollment and Communications, Dean of Admission at Rhodes College from August 2010 to May 2021 where he supervised Admission, Financial Aid and Institutional Communications. Prior to Rhodes, he served as the Vice President of Enrollment and Student Planning Services and Dean of Admission at Centre College from July 1998 – July 2010 and served in various roles at Furman University culminating as the Director of Admissions from 1989 to 1998.

Carey’s professional mission has been to integrate the of the functional areas he has led to drive enrollment results. A nationally respected voice, he speaks nationally on issues of admission, college costs, net tuition revenue management, and marketing and communications. Currently, he serves as Senior Advisor at the Council of Independent Colleges.   He has served as President of the Board of Directors for the Common Application and as a member of multiple College Board advisory councils.

Professional Experience:

  • Senior Advisor, Council of Independent Colleges
  • Vice President for Enrollment and Educational Services, Gettysburg College
  • Vice President for Enrollment, Rhodes College
  • Vice President for Enrollment, Centre College
  • Director of Admission, Furman University

Proven Results:

  • 48% application increase at Gettysburg College through strategic enrollment initiatives
  • 51% application growth at Rhodes College via comprehensive recruitment strategy
  • 65% application increase at Furman University through innovative outreach programs
  • $100+ million budget management experience across multiple institutions
  • Record enrollment achievements across all institutional positions

Leadership:

  • Active member and leader in National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
  • Developed a new Enrollment Planning and Pricing Working Group structure to ensure collaboration between divisions and offices in support of positive enrollment outcomes.
  • Recognized speaker and presenter on enrollment management topics
  • Consultant to private education institutions across the United States including Colorado College, Hampden Sydney College, Monmouth College, Randolph Macon College, and Washington and Lee University.

Enrollment and Communications Expertise:

  • Advanced proficiency in Slate CRM, Othot Analytics, Marketview, and EAB platforms
  • Predictive modeling and enrollment forecasting
  • Net tuition revenue management and financial aid strategy
  • Data analytics and institutional research
  • Institutional and student recruitment communications